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26
Aug 2021
Hospitality jobs crisis: 'We need to offer more than just money'
All week, the Stray Ferret has been reporting on the reasons behind the jobs crisis facing hospitality venues in Harrogate — from low pay, to high housing costs and Brexit.
Today we spoke to two business owners about how the sector can move forward and attract staff. Both said that it's not as easy as just offering more money.
Kim Wilson owns guesthouses The Camberley and The Lodge on Kings Road and is the chair of guesthouse association, Accommodation Harrogate.
She said it annoys her when people suggest hospitality venues should simply increase wages to attract staff when covid has significantly increased her business costs.
With a largely female team of housekeepers, Ms Wilson said the biggest thing the government could do to help her is provide childcare to mums.
She also said changing attitudes mean some young people no longer want to work.
Read more from our series:
- “I couldn’t do it for life” – the jobs crisis in Harrogate’s hospitality venues
- Are Harrogate’s high housing costs to blame for the hospitality recruitment crisis?
- Is Brexit to blame for Harrogate’s hospitality jobs crisis?
Paul Kinsey owns the Viper Rooms and said the nightclub has been relatively unscathed by the crisis, compared to hotels, pubs and restaurants.
He said he pays more money per hour to staff than bars and restaurants to give them an edge.
Hiring staff is one thing but retaining them can be another. Mr Kinsey said it's not enough to simply offer more money.
Harrogate BID recently organised a meeting with Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, HBC, Harrogate College, and figures in the town’s hospitality industry to discuss how to encourage more people to look at hospitality as a real career option.
Mr Kinsey added:
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